How To Save A Public Library: Make It A Seed Bank

[xmas74]

Despite the cold and snow, some signs of spring are starting to break through in Colorado. The public library in the small town of Basalt is trying an experiment: In addition to borrowing books, residents can now check out seeds.

Here's how it works: A library card gets you a packet of seeds. You then grow the fruits and vegetables, harvest the new seeds from the biggest and best, and return those seeds so the library can lend them out to others.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/02/02/170846948/how-to-save-a-public-library-make-it-a-seed-bank

What a really neat idea!

[xmas74]

1. kick before it's lost to next page. nt

[octoberlib]

2. K&R!

[xmas74]

3. Thank you!

It's a wonderful idea that needs to be passed along. I'm thinking that maybe this article needs to be sent to local libraries, schools, nurseries, gardening clubs and master gardeners, extension buildings-even local 4H and FFA chapters. (Wouldn't this be a great 4H project!)

[Mnemosyne]

4. Fantastic idea! Hope it spreads. nt

[freshwest]

6. +1

[RainDog]

5. k&r n/t

[Fire Walk With Me]

7. K&R

[davidpdx]

8. That is a cool idea

It would even work for urban libraries as rooftop gardens have become popular. Maybe people can even give a little more back than they took. The next step would be for libraries to trade some seeds to allow people in other areas to have the chance to plant other things.

[obxhead]

10. You always get more back than you put in

Even a bad year of gardening will yield far more seeds than you started with.

I really love this idea. A dual purpose. Possibly getting more people to read a book and a (potentially) free seed bank going.

[xmas74]

11. Yet at the same time

you might not want to trade too many things out of area.

The best part about the program is that the seeds came from that area. They came from produce already raised there, which means they work well in that climate and that soil. Take things too far from the area and the seeds might not work as well. If someone planted some seeds that work well in Zone 8 in a Zone 3 area they would probably fail-and would frustrate the person, especially if they weren't accustomed to gardening and didn't understand the difference in zones or types of soil.

OTOH, if you stick within zones it wouldn't be so bad. Some libraries have borrowing programs with other libraries. (For example: my local library is part of a small group with a number of chapters in other small towns and we all connect with other libraries as a larger lending group.) In that case, the best bet might be to take a large seed donation and divide it between a number of libraries.

[davidpdx]

17. That is true

Vegetables and fruits grow better within certain climates. I had a friend on Facebook that said she planted a bunch of tomato plants and ended up with way too many as they grew well. Last I heard she was making spaghetti sauce and giving tomatoes away to people.

I was thinking more of within the state in terms of trading seeds as it would be easier to network.

[xmas74]

19. which is why getting a local 4H or Master Gardener club

involved would be perfect. Most could use it as a service project and would also be able to identify if the seeds would work well in the area. Master Gardeners would be an absolutely perfect match while 4H and FFA would be fantastic fits and would allow area children a glance at what could work as a model for the future.

Programs could also be held at the local library about how to plant, how to harvest, how to freeze/dehydrate/can the crop and how to harvest the seeds, keeping some for themselves and donating the rest back to the local library. With the programs available it turns what are sometimes rarely-used buildings into public meeting spaces, with lots of lively discussions. It creates a new space for the public and saves the library.

[davidpdx]

23. Anything that saves libraries

Count me in.

[xmas74]

24. Me too.

I still use the local library on a regular basis, as does my child.

[HiPointDem]

36. how would this save libraries? libraries are under the gun because of local funding crises.

making more work for already short-staffed libraries doesn't save them. taking up library storage space doesn't save libraries. getting away from the core mission of libraries doesn't save them.

and in most locations, i think, the number of people who want to check out seeds would be passingly small.

it's a project for garden clubs, master gardens, extension services, not libraries, imo.

[obxhead]

9. That is a really neat idea!

That is a really neat idea!

Sounds like sosholism to me!

[xmas74]

14. I read the comments on the article page

and one person did complain about it, saying it was stupid and wouldn't work on such a large level.

I suspect his real problem was that he doesn't like sharing.

[obxhead]

16. Well, it wouldn't really work on a large level

This is the kind of thing that would work best on a locality basis.

Doing a nationwide program would likely prove expensive and far less productive.

However, on a local basis it could get neighbors talking and sharing. They might even read a book, something far to few Americans do lately.

Hopefully the idea takes and more localities begin similar programs.

[xmas74]

20. The person complaining didn't actually read the article

or else they would have realized just that-this is for hobby gardening only.

Think of all the programs that could be offered at the library to compliment! How to pick a spot, how to ready the spot, how to plant, how to weed, troubleshooting, how to transplant, how to harvest, how to preserve the crop, and how to save seeds. The participants save some seeds back for themselves, donate a few to a neighbor or family (or friend or coworker or...you get the picture) and donate the rest to the library.

It's a win-win for the entire community.

[CrispyQ]

31. I sent the story to my library along with a reminder

that there is an organic farm about 4 blocks away. Maybe the library & farm could work together for the benefit of both. We'll see. Our town library is pretty active.

[xmas74]

32. I did the same

Along with an email to a local master gardener.

[HiPointDem]

37. where's the funding coming from? our local libraries have already had two rounds of cuts.

[xmas74]

38. Programs like this often receive free donations.

For example, I sent this article along to someone I know in master gardeners and she said that this was feasible- programs like hers or 4H or even a Scouting program could turn it into a service project. Free lessons could be offered to the public about how to save seeds.

There are ways to make this low to no cost. Extension programs would be perfect for this.

[HiPointDem]

39. extension, 4h & scouts aren't libraries.

[OneGrassRoot]

12. K&R n/t

[Skip Intro]

13. K&R. Awesome idea! nt

[DogPawsBiscuitsNGrav]

15. wonderful idea. Hopefully it'll take off and help a few people become a little less dependent on GMO

That's assuming they're heirloom seeds to begin with.

[xmas74]

21. More than likely they are heirloom seeds`

but it doesn't actually say.

If my local would be interested I'd be glad to donate a few packs from Baker Creek to start. They are passionate about heirloom seeds and are kinda local (they are located in my state).

[Drew Richards]

18. This was the whole philosophy of grangers who then expanded

To full blown feed and tractor supply stores and then were destroyed by monsanto in the 70's yes i said the fuckin 70's monsanto has been the ugly bully in the room a long damn time...

Dont bother demanding my proof i came back to the states 1970 and lived through their alledged intimidation and bribery.

I watched first hand how others were bought new equipment or given 1% loans if they would use monsant seed instead of burpee or granger traded legacy seed.

Hurray seed banks fuck franken food.

[xmas74]

22. Why would I demand proof?

I live in an agricultural community and nothing surprises me.

I used to use Burpee but now buy from Baker Creek.

http://rareseeds.com/

They have a store in the southern part of my state,which I hope to visit in person soon. And their catalogs are gorgeous-and free.

[Drew Richards]

25. Baker creek rocks

And they dont pawn off old seed that doesnt germinate...great web site should be promoted more.

[Liberal_in_LA]

26. k&r before I have read the full article. great idea! saving for reading later

thanks for posting this.

[NickB79]

28. Quite possibly a bad idea

Without proper isolation barriers, many vegetable varieties will cross-pollinate easily with each other, even if they're not GM or hybrids. Plant a pumpkin, a zucchini and a butternut squash plant within 100 yards of each other, and the resulting seeds will be hybridized "mutts" as bees spread pollen willy-nilly among their flowers. Return those seeds to the seed bank, and the next person to check them out will get bastardized plants that likely won't have the same desirable characteristics of the original strain. You'd need to find a way to ensure that whoever was returning seed was qualified to follow rigorous quality-control standards.

I live on 1.5 acres of land, and even I have be careful about what I grow each season to keep pure seed strains of my heirlooms. I even go so far as to ask the neighbors what they're growing every spring in their gardens; bees and wind-blown pollen can travel a pretty far distance.

[hibbing]

29. Great..I sent this to my library system

Hey,
I hope someone looks at it and follows up with the powers that be in the library system. Great idea, thanks for posting this.

Peace

[xmas74]

33. I also passed this along.

I think it's wonderful.

[CrispyQ]

30. Love it!

And you can find books on how to garden, too!

[farminator3000]

34. here's the book you want. i guess all the libraries should have it?

http://www.caroldeppe.com/byovv.html


Breed Your Own Vegetable Varieties: The Gardener's and Farmer's Guide to Plant Breeding and Seed Saving, 2nd ed.

Carol Deppe

Dec. 2000 Chelsea Green Publishing
paperback; 370 pages; list price: $27.95

[farminator3000]

35. just one little correction from the article

Syson says tending a garden in Western Colorado can be frustrating. The dry climate, alkaline soils and short growing season keep many novices from starting. She'll take seeds from the plants that withstand pests and persevere through drought.

"If you save seed from those plants, already, in one generation, you will now be able to grow a plant that has those traits," Syson says.


it takes longer than 1 generation is all. but they do acclimate, within reason. 2 or 3 zones is OK, i think.

its in that book!

[Taverner]

40. 420 Growing used this method

Worked very well to proliferate this perfect medicinal and recreational herb

Legalize it!